The pin-striped tit-babbler, also known as the yellow-breasted babbler, is a species of bird in the Old World babbler family Timaliidae that is found in South and Southeast Asia.
Region
South and Southeast Asia
Typical Environment
Occurs from the Himalayan foothills and northeastern India through Bangladesh, Myanmar, southern China (including Hainan), Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and the Malay Peninsula, extending to Singapore, Sumatra, Borneo, and Java. It favors lowland and foothill habitats with dense undergrowth, including secondary forest, bamboo, scrub, forest edge, mangroves, and wooded gardens. Often found near watercourses and in regenerating or disturbed habitats where thickets are well developed. The species is generally non-migratory and locally common where suitable cover exists.
Altitude Range
0–1500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
The pin-striped tit-babbler, also known as the yellow-breasted babbler, is a noisy understory bird that often forages in small, chattering parties and joins mixed-species flocks. It builds a neat, domed nest low in vegetation using leaves and fibers. Its contact calls are a reliable way to detect it in dense thickets where it is otherwise hard to see.
In Bintan, Indonesia
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Typically found in pairs or small family groups that keep contact with constant chattering calls. Frequently joins mixed-species flocks in the understory. Nests are domed or globular and placed low in dense vegetation; both sexes participate in nest-building and care.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A loud, repetitive series of ringing, scolding notes, often delivered antiphonally by a pair. Calls include sharp chits and rattling chatter used to maintain contact while moving through thick cover.
Plumage
Olive-brown upperparts with a warm brown crown; underparts yellow to yellowish-olive with fine dark pin-stripes on the throat and breast. The feathers are soft and slightly fluffy, suited to dense understory life. Wings and tail are brown with subtle rufous tones.
Diet
Primarily feeds on small insects and other arthropods such as beetles, ants, caterpillars, and spiders. It gleans from leaves, twigs, and bamboo culms, sometimes probing into rolled leaves. Occasional small fruits or berries may be taken, especially when insect prey is less abundant.
Preferred Environment
Forages in dense understory, bamboo stands, scrub, and forest edges, usually within a few meters of the ground. Often works methodically through thickets and vine tangles, moving in loose groups and following mixed flocks.
